Port Vale's new defender Connell Rawlinson says he is determined to take his chance in the Football League.

The 26-year-old centre half impressed in Saturday's 1-1 draw at home to Blackburn in his first game at Vale Park since his free transfer move from Welsh champions TNS.

He spent eight years there but jumped at the chance to join the Valiants. He explained: "Signing here was a big move for me and the gaffer was a big reason why I came to sign here.

"This is a big club and it is league football, it is something I strove for, for many years. So, when the opportunity arose I thought this club fitted me perfectly.

"Hopefully I can try to push my name forward for a starting position at the start of the league and the team can hit the ground running come August 4.

"It is a good group of lads and the gaffer has put together a really good pre-season so far. There has been a lot of hard running but the graft has to be put in now if we are going to do anything come August 4."

Connell Rawlinson and Tom Pope (Image: The Sentinel)

Meanwhile, Aspin says he will have to carefully manage his players this week to avoid injuries. Vale have friendlies at Halifax on Tuesday, and Nuneaton, on Wednesday, but can't call on youth team players because they are at a training camp in Devon.

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The EFL have revealed the Valiants are in Northern Group E along with the Saddlers and the Brewers, plus one of eight invited academy sides.

One academy team will be placed into each of the eight northern groups in Wednesday's draw. So, Vale's possible under-21s opponents are Stoke, Everton, Leicester, Manchester City, Middlesbrough, Newcastle United, West Brom and Wolves.